How to Become a Forensic Nurse

Forensic nurses provide care to patients who are survivors of abuse, molestation, or assault. This nursing specialty involves collecting evidence, providing emotional support, and collaborating with law enforcement.

Find out how to become a forensic nurse, including the nursing degree required, certification, work settings, and other details of a career as a forensic nurse.

Forensic nurses provide care and advocacy for patients who have experienced abuse or assault. They collaborate closely with law enforcement by performing detailed physical examinations and collecting evidence. They also provide emotional and psychological support to the patient.

Becoming a forensic nurse opens the door to a nursing career that helps to solve crimes and seek justice.

Forensic nurses also work alongside medical examiners, pathologists, or coroners to identify cause of death, and they accurately document legal and medical information.

They may work in rape crisis centers, hospitals, coroner’s and medical examiner’s offices, prisons and jails, and psychiatric hospitals. Forensic nurses may also respond to disasters and community emergencies.

The work of the forensic nurse calls for critical thinking skills, physical assessment, compassion, attention to detail, and good communication skills. An understanding of law enforcement and the legal system are also important in forensic nursing.

You need an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) to become any type of licensed registered nurse (RN).

Some employers and positions may require forensic nursing certification and experience, but some may hire RNs with clinical medical-surgical experience (med-surg) and provide on-the-job training.

Becoming a forensic nurse first requires earning a nursing degree, often an ADN or a BSN. A master of science in nursing (MSN) can be pursued if the nurse would like to advance to greater independence and increased earning power.

Becoming a forensic nurse requires licensure as either an RN or APRN. Once a nurse has passed a licensing exam, continuing education requirements are regulated by the board of nursing of each state.

Certification in forensic nursing can help with career advancement, but the nurse should note they need significant forensic experience to sit for the certification exam.

The IAFN offers two certification tracks:

To sit for either exam through the ANCC, the nurse applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:

SANE-A nurses most often work with patients in the emergency department, although rape crisis centers are also a common setting. They conduct sexual assault examinations and collect evidence from adult and adolescent survivors of rape and molestation. SANE-P nurses focus on pediatric patients and often work in the emergency department too. SANE-P nurses receive training in forensic examination, photography, and procedures for providing court testimony.

Forensic nurses also work in settings like coroner’s and medical examiner’s offices, corrections facilities, and psychiatric hospitals. Forensic nurses may need to respond to mass disasters or community crisis situations.

A nurse’s clinical experience and resume determine their ability to find a position and become a forensic nurse. Skills in networking, the job search process, and interviewing are also factors. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a forensic nurse is $72,550 as of July 2022. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses earn a median annual wage of $77,600 or $37.31 per hour, with 6% projected job growth between 2021 and 2031.

Forensic nursing is an emerging and growing field. In 1992, a group of 72 nurses formed The International Association of Forensic Nurses. Today the organization boasts 6,000 members and 30 global chapters.

Forensic nurses need superb assessment and communication skills. Medical-surgical nursing offers solid clinical experience for nurses interested in forensics. Psychiatric mental health and pediatric nursing care are also good preparation.

For nurses with an interest in providing compassionate support to patients who have experienced trauma, rape, or molestation, forensics could be a good career choice. Forensic nurses also need to demonstrate great attention to detail and excellent skills in communication, collaboration, and physical assessment.

ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for a forensic nurse is $72,550 as of July 2022.

Some forensic nurses may be called to crime scenes. They may respond to mass disasters or community crises.